West Brom keeping tabs on Micah Richards

The 26-year-old Birmingham-born man is out of contract at Manchester City, available on a free transfer and looking to resurrect his Premier League career after a loan spell at Fiorentina.

Unable to hold down a regular place in Vincenzo Montella's starting line-up this season, the former City team-mate of Albion Player of the Year Joleon Lescott has had time to reflect on his next move.

Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini, who managed Richards at City, tried and failed to sign him on loan in January.

Mancini is set to lure Richards again this summer, but Albion are bound to consider the prospect along with Villa, Southampton, Everton and West Ham in showing an interest.

Boss Tony Pulis has shown in the past that he is not frightened to offer a route back to experienced players who have lost their way, as he proved by taking Robert Huth and Matthew Etherington at Stoke.

Pulis likes his defenders to be versatile and has regularly played centre-backs as full-backs at Stoke and Albion.

Richards, a Premier League winner with City, made his name as a right-back but has played equally as often as a central defender in recent seasons.

It's understood Tim Sherwood would offer Richards a permanent home at centre-back next season to lure him to Villa Park.

But more importantly he wants regular football again and after seeing the impact Lescott has made at the Hawthorns, he may be tempted to follow him.